
AeroVironment, Inc. (&#34;AV&#34;) (NASDAQ:AVAV) today announced that it has appointed Michael D. Ruppert to its Board of Directors, effective August 5, 2026.


Mr. Ruppert brings more than 25 years of financial,

<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
AeroVironment, Inc. ("AV") (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AVAV">AVAV</a>) today announced that it has appointed Michael D. Ruppert to its Board of Directors, effective August 5, 2026.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Mr. Ruppert brings more than 25 years of financial, strategic and corporate development experience in the aerospace and defense sector to AV. He has served as EVP and Chief Financial Officer of ManTech since 2023 where he leads ManTech’s financial planning and analysis, accounting, treasury, cash management, and acquisition strategy functions.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
"Michael brings exceptional financial leadership, strategic insight and deep aerospace and defense industry experience to AV," said Wahid Nawabi, AV’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. "As AV continues executing its growth strategy and advancing its portfolio of mission-critical capabilities, I am confident Michael’s highly relevant expertise and fresh perspectives will make him a meaningful addition to our Board."

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
"AV has established a strong position in some of the most important and rapidly evolving areas of defense technology," said Mr. Ruppert. "I look forward to working with Wahid and my fellow directors as the company continues innovating products, scaling capacity and executing with excellence."

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
The company also announced that Charles Thomas Burbage has informed the Board of his decision not to seek re-election and to retire from the Board at the company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Mr. Burbage has served on AV’s Board since 2013 and currently serves on its Nominating and Corporate Governance, Compensation, and Executive Committees.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
"On behalf of the Board, I thank Tom for his many contributions to AV over the years," said Nawabi. "His oversight has helped guide the company through a period of significant growth and expansion, leading to the diversified, multi-domain defense technology company AV is today. We are grateful for his leadership and guidance."

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
"I have had a front row seat as AV expanded its capabilities and helped reshape the defense technology landscape since I joined the Board," said Burbage. "I retire from the Board with tremendous respect for the AV team and my fellow Board members, and I am confident the path of success will continue for AV, a trailblazer in the industry."

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">About Michael D. Ruppert</b>

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Mr. Ruppert has served as ManTech’s Chief Financial Officer since 2023, where he leads ManTech’s financial planning and analysis, accounting, treasury, cash management, and acquisition strategy functions. Previously, Mr. Ruppert held several senior leadership roles at Mercury Systems, including Chief Financial Officer. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ruppert co-founded an aerospace and defense-focused M&amp;A advisory firm and held senior investment-banking roles at UBS Securities, Lehman Brothers and Lazard.

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Mr. Ruppert holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">About AV</b>

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
AeroVironment ("AV") (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AVAV">AVAV</a>) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The Company develops and deploys autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities—built to meet the mission needs of today’s warfighter and tomorrow’s conflicts. At the core of these technologies lies AV_Halo&#x2122;, a modular, mission-ready suite of AI-powered software tools that empowers warfighters and enables full-battlefield dominance: detect, decide, deliver. With a national manufacturing footprint and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-defining capabilities at speed, scale, and operational relevance. For more information, visit <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.avinc.com%2F&amp;esheet=54585594&amp;newsitemid=20260807269036&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.avinc.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=1c287d8d5e0ba0043d22555a67eb8b01" shape="rect">www.avinc.com</a>.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Safe Harbor Statement</b>

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Certain statements in this press release may constitute &#34;forward-looking statements&#34; as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain new ones; regulatory changes; competitor activities; market growth; product development challenges; and general economic conditions. For a more detailed discussion of these risks, please refer to AeroVironment’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" alt="" src="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnews&amp;sty=20260807269036r1&amp;sid=benz2&amp;distro=nx&amp;lang=en" style="width:0;height:0"></img><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="bwct31415"></span></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="mmgallerylink"><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="mmgallerylink-phrase">View source version on businesswire.com: </span><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="mmgallerylink-link"><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260807269036/en/" rel="nofollow">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260807269036/en/</a></span></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Media Contact: 
</b><br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>BJ Koubaroulis
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:pr@avinc.com" shape="rect">pr@avinc.com 
</a><br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>703.718.4060
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Investor Contact: 
</b><br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>Denise Pacioni
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:ir@avinc.com" shape="rect">ir@avinc.com 
</a><br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>805.795.4108

</p>

AVAV

AV Appoints Aerospace and Defense Executive Michael D. Ruppert to Board of Directors

AeroVironment appoints Ruppert to Board, signaling governance and growth focus

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>AeroVironment, Inc. (&amp;#34;AV&amp;#34;) (NASDAQ:AVAV) today announced that it has appointed Michael D. Ruppert to its Board of Directors, effective August 5, 2026.


Mr. Ruppert brings more than 25 years of financial,</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>AV named Michael D. Ruppert to its board, effective August 5, 2026, adding over 25 years of aerospace and defense financial leadership (currently ManTech CFO). The move accompanies retirement of long-time director Tom Burbage, signaling a refreshed governance slate. Ruppert&#039;s background could enhance capital allocation, M&amp;A strategy, and strategic oversight as AV scales its defense tech portfolio.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>AV appoints Michael D. Ruppert to Board, effective Aug 5, 2026.</li><li>Ruppert: 25+ years in aerospace/defense; ManTech CFO since 2023.</li><li>Board member Tom Burbage to retire at 2026 annual meeting.</li><li>AV cites growth strategy; Ruppert to bring financial leadership and strategic insight.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV)</strong>: Board appointment could influence governance and strategic direction.</li><li><strong>ManTech International Corp. (MANT)</strong>: Ruppert is CFO here; potential impacts on cross-company tie-ins.</li><li><strong>Mercury Systems, Inc. (MRCY)</strong>: Ruppert previously CFO; demonstrates robust aerospace finance background.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
    <p>Category: Corporate Developments; Leadership Change in the defense tech sector; governance updates often modestly affect sentiment and strategic execution.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>New board member with CFO experience may improve capital allocation and oversight.</li><li>Retirement of veteran director could trigger committee leadership changes.</li><li>No earnings impact; event is governance-related and unlikely to trigger immediate price moves.</li><li>Ruppert&#039;s background could influence AV&#039;s M&amp;A and strategic financing plans over time.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Michael D. Ruppert appointed to AV Board, effective August 5, 2026.</li><li>Ruppert currently Chief Financial Officer of ManTech since 2023.</li><li>Charles Thomas Burbage retiring from AV Board at 2026 Annual Meeting.</li><li>Burbage served on AV Board since 2013; committees: Nominating/Corporate Governance, Compensation, Executive.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Positive: strengthens governance; potential modest multiple expansion over 6–12 months.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
AeroVironment, Inc. ("AV") (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AVAV">AVAV</a>) today announced that it has appointed Michael D. Ruppert to its Board of Directors, effective August 5, 2026.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Mr. Ruppert brings more than 25 years of financial, strategic and corporate development experience in the aerospace and defense sector to AV. He has served as EVP and Chief Financial Officer of ManTech since 2023 where he leads ManTech’s financial planning and analysis, accounting, treasury, cash management, and acquisition strategy functions.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
"Michael brings exceptional financial leadership, strategic insight and deep aerospace and defense industry experience to AV," said Wahid Nawabi, AV’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. "As AV continues executing its growth strategy and advancing its portfolio of mission-critical capabilities, I am confident Michael’s highly relevant expertise and fresh perspectives will make him a meaningful addition to our Board."

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
"AV has established a strong position in some of the most important and rapidly evolving areas of defense technology," said Mr. Ruppert. "I look forward to working with Wahid and my fellow directors as the company continues innovating products, scaling capacity and executing with excellence."

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
The company also announced that Charles Thomas Burbage has informed the Board of his decision not to seek re-election and to retire from the Board at the company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Mr. Burbage has served on AV’s Board since 2013 and currently serves on its Nominating and Corporate Governance, Compensation, and Executive Committees.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
"On behalf of the Board, I thank Tom for his many contributions to AV over the years," said Nawabi. "His oversight has helped guide the company through a period of significant growth and expansion, leading to the diversified, multi-domain defense technology company AV is today. We are grateful for his leadership and guidance."

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
"I have had a front row seat as AV expanded its capabilities and helped reshape the defense technology landscape since I joined the Board," said Burbage. "I retire from the Board with tremendous respect for the AV team and my fellow Board members, and I am confident the path of success will continue for AV, a trailblazer in the industry."

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">About Michael D. Ruppert</b>

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Mr. Ruppert has served as ManTech’s Chief Financial Officer since 2023, where he leads ManTech’s financial planning and analysis, accounting, treasury, cash management, and acquisition strategy functions. Previously, Mr. Ruppert held several senior leadership roles at Mercury Systems, including Chief Financial Officer. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ruppert co-founded an aerospace and defense-focused M&amp;A advisory firm and held senior investment-banking roles at UBS Securities, Lehman Brothers and Lazard.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Mr. Ruppert holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">About AV</b>

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
AeroVironment ("AV") (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AVAV">AVAV</a>) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The Company develops and deploys autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities—built to meet the mission needs of today’s warfighter and tomorrow’s conflicts. At the core of these technologies lies AV_Halo&#x2122;, a modular, mission-ready suite of AI-powered software tools that empowers warfighters and enables full-battlefield dominance: detect, decide, deliver. With a national manufacturing footprint and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-defining capabilities at speed, scale, and operational relevance. For more information, visit <a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.avinc.com%2F&amp;esheet=54585594&amp;newsitemid=20260807269036&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.avinc.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=1c287d8d5e0ba0043d22555a67eb8b01" shape="rect">www.avinc.com</a>.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Safe Harbor Statement</b>

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Certain statements in this press release may constitute &#34;forward-looking statements&#34; as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain new ones; regulatory changes; competitor activities; market growth; product development challenges; and general economic conditions. For a more detailed discussion of these risks, please refer to AeroVironment’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.

</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" alt="" src="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnews&amp;sty=20260807269036r1&amp;sid=benz2&amp;distro=nx&amp;lang=en" style="width:0;height:0"></img><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="bwct31415"></span></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="mmgallerylink"><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="mmgallerylink-phrase">View source version on businesswire.com: </span><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="mmgallerylink-link"><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260807269036/en/" rel="nofollow">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260807269036/en/</a></span></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Media Contact: 
</b><br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>BJ Koubaroulis
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:pr@avinc.com" shape="rect">pr@avinc.com 
</a><br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>703.718.4060
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Investor Contact: 
</b><br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>Denise Pacioni
<br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" rel="nofollow" href="mailto:ir@avinc.com" shape="rect">ir@avinc.com 
</a><br xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"></br>805.795.4108

</p>

AV named Michael D. Ruppert to its board, effective August 5, 2026, adding over 25 years of aerospace and defense financial leadership (currently ManTech CFO). The move accompanies retirement of long-time director Tom Burbage, signaling a refreshed governance slate. Ruppert's background could enhance capital allocation, M&A strategy, and strategic oversight as AV scales its defense tech portfolio.

News insight

AV Appoints Aerospace and Defense Executive Michael D. Ruppert to Board of Directors

AI summary

Sentiment rationale

Key facts

Corporate Developments